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Legislators, Regulators Seek Credit Union Oversight Secret Sauce

The NCUA board chairman is the Heinz ketchup of credit unions - the packaging may change, but the person still controls the agency's agenda.

By Sarah Snell Cooke | Updated on June 30, 2016
Remember the 1980s when we were introduced to Grey Poupon? My brother and I, in elementary school at the time, would affect snooty accents and ask, “Pardon me, would you have any Grey Poupon?” “But, of course.” Malcolm Gladwell, in his book What the Dog Saw, points out that until that time, French’s dominated the market, but by the end of the 1980s there were several different brands and varieties of mustard.

Little has changed in the world of ketchup, however, Gladwell noted. Heinz is the clear leader and there’s practically no variety. In fact, the only real change has been from glass to plastic bottles that young children – including even adolescents like my son who ketchups everything – can squeeze for themselves. Apparently there are ketchup tasting experts (my son should apply) who determined that Heinz ketchup is the perfect blend of the human taste palate. The story concludes by quoting a formerly budding ketchup pioneer, “I guess ketchup is ketchup.”

The NCUA board chairman is credit unions’ Heinz ketchup. The packaging may change, but the person in that position still controls policy and the agency agenda. That person, in fact, has a monopoly over the agenda, which is seasoned to the political tastes of the day. An interesting aside: Ketchup’s modern day balanced flavor can be accredited to innovation brought about when a government agency decided the 19th century preservative used was unsafe. Heinz came out the new taste winner. See, regulation can force innovation!

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